TOWN TALK
k l a t OF THE TOWNS by bill beggs jr.
webster groves
Join Classic 107.3 for a few hours of pure bliss at Community Music School of Webster University, especially if you’re into bourbon and rye. (Something about driving my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry, just popped into my head. Hmm. Probably just random.) In this context, ‘classic’ doesn’t refer to classic rock, as in songs like “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin, “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen, “Dream On” by Aerosmith or anything by AC/DC. Gosh, no. Tune in. It’s a classical music station on the FM dial. Mix in some Classical Cocktails on
south grand
Beep-beep for baklava? No, that’s at the Greekfest over Memorial Day weekend, which we’ll get to a few sentences from here. Café Natasha’s, a favorite restaurant that also served the scrumptious Mediterranean dessert, alas, closed April 30. When I lived nearby, I’d walk from my flat to eat there, stag, at least once a week. It was more than a block away. We all need to exercise, right? When I logged onto match.com, it was great for impressing dates, one of whom is now my wife, Cate! The kebabs were to die for, and the biryani or basmati rice featured a wonderful garnish: half of a roasted tomato. Natasha Bahrami, for whom the eatery was named nearly 40 years ago, has hospitality in her genes. Natasha or her mom, Hamishe—or both—always had a warm greeting, as though inviting us into their home. The Gin Room, Natasha’s concept drinkery, will close for a short time in order to reconfigure space for—tah-dah!—Salve Osteria, her ‘harvest-centric’ restaurant set to open May 27, the Friday of Memorial Day weekend. It will feature pan-Mediterranean cuisine, and maybe the weather will be ideal for dining on the charming, shaded patio. Anyhow, ‘salve’ is a somewhat informal way to say hello in Italian, so salve to Natasha and Matt Wynn, local chef extraordinaire, who’ll be in the kitchen of a new place in the same space: 3200 S. Grand. Hamishe, although now officially retired, likely will be holding forth, as well. Oh, my; someone’s koo-koo for kebabs now. Well, the same weekend is the 40th anniversary of the county Greekfest. Online orders begin Monday, May 23, for your May 27-30 reintroduction to Greek delicacies, so go-go for gyros at your pre-appointed time, drive up for dolmades, scoot in for spanakopita … or, yes, beep for baklava. But first, to browse the menu and order, visit stlgreekfest.com. You’ve probably seen the church from I-270: Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 1755 Des Peres Road. Just GPS it. The ancient Greeks didn’t have the luxury.
the metro
TTia triv
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June 3 from 6 to 8:30 p.m., when you can enjoy crafted concoctions made with Switchgrass Spirits bourbon and rye, plus culinary creations from White Box Catering. Meanwhile, drink in beautiful, accessible music courtesy of the Chamber Music Society of St. Louis. Say you have a friend who “doesn’t like classical music.”This low-key event will be a perfect opportunity to expand their musical horizons. And yours. Plus, cocktails. Need more details? But of course: classic1073.org/classical-cocktails.
Prices are all over the place these days. I’m not referring so much to record-high gas prices, which the AAA pegged, at this writing, to be two cents north of four bucks. Many of us still aren’t driving all that much these days, so, so what? Milk and eggs, well … gulp. So, why not let’s focus on two things: Twitter and the AT&T tower downtown. The former sold for a ridiculously high price, the latter for a song. Let’s ‘climb down’ the latter. Missouri’s largest, and vacant, office building sold in April for less than 2% of the $205.5 million it went for in 2006—$4 million and change. That may be even less than a respectable estate would go for in one of our more upscale suburbs. We know what you’re thinking: Condos! With a helluva view—at 46 stories, the tower occupies a full city block—why the heck not? There could even be a pool up top. Plus a pool table in your place! Granted, this comes from a man with the real estate savvy of thinking Chesterfield Mall would make a great roller disco. OK; Twitter. Don’t use it, probably never will, so I’ve no clue why the world’s richest man just paid $44 billion for a whole lot of air when he’s so obviously full of hot gas already. The rich are different, I hear. Wouldn’t know. I’m a part-time journalist. I’d be lucky to find 44 cents in this house.
WHAT SONG FEATURES THE LYRIC, “DROVE MY CHEVY TO THE LEVEE / BUT THE LEVEE
BILL BEGGS JR. HAS WORN MANY HATS AT NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES AND IN MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS SINCE BEFORE THE ERA OF THE FLOPPY DISC. NOW HE JUST WEARS A HAT TO KEEP HIS BALD SPOT FROM GETTING SUNBURNT. YOU CAN REACH HIM AT WRTRS.BLCK@GMAIL.COM
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TOWN&style
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MAY 18, 2022
WAS DRY?” Who had a hit with the tune? What year was it released? What other significant detail about this song had to be part of a trivia contest at somebody’s parish?
LAST ISSUE’S Q&A Greenland, a territory of Denmark, is the largest island on the planet. What really big island comes in at No. 2? Greenland is our planet’s largest island. It’s icy. The No. 2 really big island probably has no naturally occurring ice. New Guinea is closer than 500 miles from the equator. Ice probably doesn’t last long in a cooler there. Try the fridge. (Editor’s Note: No, no, no, and no: Australia and Antarctica are continents. Sorry.)
